Canberra's airport workers say they are ready to walk off the job for good if Qantas does not come to the table to improve conditions and job security.
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More than 70 ramp and ground staff stopped work for four hours yesterday from 3.30pm as part of nationwide strikes over pay disputes with the company.
The Transport Workers Union is calling for a 15 per cent pay rise over three years for all its staff as well as increased job security for ramp workers. Canberra Airport's TWU delegate Chris O'Grady said that if the company did not meet the request, it was guaranteed to lose staff in the city.
''There will be people who will go if we can't win this argument with Qantas because they realise it will be pointless staying in this company,'' he said. ''Over time, attrition and the lack of conditions will just make people up and go, and you're going to lose good workers here.''
Mr O'Grady's comments come as the strikes caused mass delays for up to 6000 passengers across the country. More than 55 flights were affected nationally, with six flights in and out of Canberra delayed and another three cancelled.
But the union claimed Qantas downplayed the effect of their action.
TWU ACT branch official Ben Sweaney said the company had reported minimal disruptions with flight delays of up to 35 minutes but the actual setback was double that time.
''I have been told some of those flights have been delayed upwards of an hour, or in some cases even longer,'' he said. ''Qantas is trying its best to put a spin on this.''